OPM awards $18.9M for human capital support, with a significant portion for training

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $18,944,875 ($18.9M)

Contractor: THE Center for Organizational Excellence, Incorporated

Awarding Agency: Office of Personnel Management

Start Date: 2012-09-15

End Date: 2014-04-21

Contract Duration: 583 days

Daily Burn Rate: $32.5K/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Number of Offers Received: 3

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: Other

Official Description: HUMAN CAPITAL SUPPORT AND SERVICES, IGF::CL::IGF

Place of Performance

Location: WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA County, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, 20415

State: District of Columbia Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Office of Personnel Management obligated $18.9 million to THE CENTER FOR ORGANIZATIONAL EXCELLENCE, INCORPORATED for work described as: HUMAN CAPITAL SUPPORT AND SERVICES, IGF::CL::IGF Key points: 1. Contract focuses on professional and management development training, indicating a need for workforce enhancement. 2. The contract was awarded using full and open competition, suggesting a competitive bidding process. 3. Delivery order structure implies flexibility in service delivery over the contract period. 4. The contract duration of 583 days suggests a medium-term need for these services. 5. The primary agency and awarding office are both the Office of Personnel Management, indicating internal focus. 6. The contract value is substantial, reflecting significant investment in human capital development.

Value Assessment

Rating: good

The contract value of $18.9 million for human capital support and training appears reasonable given the scope and duration. Benchmarking against similar contracts for professional development and management training would provide a clearer picture of value for money. The firm fixed-price structure helps control costs, but the specific unit costs for training sessions or services are not detailed here, making a precise per-unit cost comparison difficult without further data.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

The contract was awarded under full and open competition, indicating that all responsible sources were permitted to submit a bid. The presence of 3 bidders suggests a moderate level of competition for this requirement. While more bidders would generally lead to better price discovery, three offers indicate that the market for these services is not overly concentrated.

Taxpayer Impact: Full and open competition generally benefits taxpayers by fostering a competitive environment that can drive down prices and improve service quality.

Public Impact

Federal employees, particularly managers and professionals, are the primary beneficiaries through enhanced training and development. Services delivered include professional and management development training, aiming to improve workforce skills and organizational effectiveness. The geographic impact is centered in the District of Columbia, where the Office of Personnel Management is headquartered. Workforce implications include upskilling of federal employees, potentially leading to improved government operations and service delivery.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Potential for scope creep if training needs evolve significantly beyond initial projections.
Dependence on contractor expertise for effective training delivery.
Ensuring training content remains relevant and up-to-date with evolving management practices.

Positive Signals

Focus on human capital development aligns with government-wide priorities for workforce improvement.
Firm fixed-price contract provides cost certainty for the agency.
Delivery order mechanism allows for phased implementation and adaptation to specific needs.

Sector Analysis

The human capital and professional development sector within government contracting is crucial for maintaining a skilled federal workforce. This contract fits within the broader professional services market, which includes areas like training, consulting, and human resources. Comparable spending benchmarks for large-scale federal training initiatives would place this contract within a significant investment category for agency operational effectiveness.

Small Business Impact

There is no indication that this contract included a small business set-aside. The contract was awarded to The Center for Organizational Excellence, Incorporated, which may or may not be a small business. Further analysis would be needed to determine subcontracting opportunities for small businesses and their overall impact on the small business ecosystem.

Oversight & Accountability

The Office of Personnel Management, as both the agency and awarding office, is responsible for oversight. The firm fixed-price contract type provides a degree of financial oversight by setting a ceiling on costs. Transparency would be enhanced by public reporting of specific training outcomes and contractor performance metrics. Inspector General jurisdiction would apply if any fraud, waste, or abuse were suspected.

Related Government Programs

Federal Workforce Training Programs
Management and Professional Development
Human Capital Management Services
Government Employee Training Contracts

Risk Flags

Potential for training effectiveness to be difficult to measure.
Reliance on contractor for specialized expertise.
Need for ongoing contract monitoring to ensure alignment with evolving needs.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Office of Personnel Management awarded $18.9 million to THE CENTER FOR ORGANIZATIONAL EXCELLENCE, INCORPORATED. HUMAN CAPITAL SUPPORT AND SERVICES, IGF::CL::IGF

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is THE CENTER FOR ORGANIZATIONAL EXCELLENCE, INCORPORATED.

Which agency awarded this contract?

Awarding agency: Office of Personnel Management (Office of Personnel Management).

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $18.9 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2012-09-15. End: 2014-04-21.

What is the track record of The Center for Organizational Excellence, Incorporated with federal contracts?

The Center for Organizational Excellence, Incorporated (COE) has a history of performing federal contracts, primarily focused on training and human capital development. While this specific contract with OPM is a significant award, COE has likely engaged in other government contracts, potentially with various agencies. A detailed review of their contract history, including past performance evaluations, on-time delivery rates, and any past disputes or contract terminations, would be necessary to fully assess their track record. Information from sources like the Federal Procurement Data System (FPDS) or SAM.gov could provide insights into their broader federal contracting experience and performance.

How does the value of this contract compare to similar federal training and human capital support contracts?

The $18.9 million value for this contract, spanning approximately two years, suggests a substantial investment in professional and management development training. To benchmark effectively, one would compare this to other large-scale federal contracts for similar services. For instance, contracts awarded by agencies like the Department of Defense, Department of Homeland Security, or other large civilian agencies for leadership training, employee development programs, or organizational effectiveness consulting could serve as comparators. The average cost per training hour or per participant, as well as the scope of services (e.g., curriculum development, delivery methods, on-site vs. online), would be key metrics for a robust comparison. Without access to specific unit pricing or detailed service breakdowns, a precise comparison is challenging, but the overall value indicates a significant program.

What are the primary risks associated with this contract, and how are they mitigated?

Key risks for this contract include potential misalignment of training content with evolving agency needs, contractor underperformance in delivering quality training, and cost overruns if the firm fixed-price structure is not managed effectively. Mitigation strategies likely involve robust contract oversight by OPM, clear performance metrics and deliverables, regular progress reviews, and potentially incorporating feedback mechanisms from training participants. Ensuring the contractor maintains qualified instructors and up-to-date curriculum is also critical. The firm fixed-price nature itself acts as a risk mitigation tool for the government by capping the financial exposure, provided the scope is well-defined.

How effective is the Office of Personnel Management in managing its human capital development contracts?

Assessing the overall effectiveness of OPM in managing its human capital development contracts requires a broader analysis of their procurement and contract management practices. This specific contract's effectiveness would be measured by the actual impact of the training on employee performance and organizational outcomes. OPM's role as the central HR agency for the federal government suggests they have established processes for identifying training needs and procuring services. However, like any large agency, challenges can arise in ensuring consistent quality, measuring ROI, and adapting to rapidly changing workforce dynamics. Examining OPM's Inspector General reports and performance metrics for similar contracts could provide further insight into their management effectiveness.

What are the historical spending patterns for human capital support and training at OPM?

Historical spending patterns for human capital support and training at OPM would reveal trends in their investment in workforce development over time. Analyzing past contracts, including their values, durations, and the types of services procured, can indicate whether spending has increased, decreased, or remained stable. This $18.9 million contract represents a significant single award, and understanding if OPM consistently awards contracts of this magnitude or if this is an outlier would be informative. Examining OPM's budget allocations for training and development over several fiscal years, alongside their contracting data, would provide a comprehensive view of their historical spending priorities in this area.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Educational Services › Business Schools and Computer and Management Training › Professional and Management Development Training

Product/Service Code: EDUCATION AND TRAINING › EDUCATION AND TRAINING SERVICES

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Solicitation Procedures: SUBJECT TO MULTIPLE AWARD FAIR OPPORTUNITY

Offers Received: 3

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 15200 SHADY GROVE RD STE 400, ROCKVILLE, MD, 20850

Business Categories: Category Business, Small Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $18,944,875

Exercised Options: $18,944,875

Current Obligation: $18,944,875

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL ITEM PROCEDURES NOT USED

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: OPM020700039

IDV Type: IDC

Timeline